Motivations Behind Immigrating to America

Have you ever immigrated from another country to the United States? However, I have not known individuals who have come across from a different land. Interestingly, as North America was being founded, many religious organizations and missionaries went over to the Americas. This discussion board focuses on why people came from the United Kingdom, France, and Europe abroad. Also, how do these factors play into the mission of the church today? Believers can look back into early American Christianity to understand European immigrants through their religious reasons for pursuing North America and applying these reasons to missiology today.

The first point is that Believers can look back into early American Christianity to understand European immigrants through their religious reasons for pursuing North America. It is interesting to note that various groups were coming to North America.[1] Spain made their way to North America to supplement the Crusades, taking possession and riches for the Catholic church.[2] The Society of Jesus (Jesuits) is contemplative and rigorous in nature. They came to America as part of missions, having their disposition of suffering relate to Jesus Christ as part of their monastic life.[3] The next area focuses on the English and Anglican settlers.

While the Europeans were missional and possessive, those involved in the Reformation pursued distinct reasons for pursuing America. Having fought against the Spanish military, Francis Drake pursued Protestant uniformity among his crew members (services, Bibles, and even theBook of Martyrs).[4] Sir Humphrey Gilbert was extremely ruthless to the Spanish Armada.[5] Richard Hakluyt, wanting to preach the Gospel to the ends of the earth, settled into the new land because of missionary goals (Acts. 1:8).[6] Those involved in the church of England perceived the mindset that traveling to the New World was “A providence of God.”[7] The Christian denomination Methodism came to the New World to bring Anglican members to individual piety.[8] Non-conformist to Catholic and Anglican beliefs, pilgrims sailed to the New World in the Plymouth colony.[9] Thomas Balch adds this about those coming to America, holding Calvinism among the non-conformists, “It was not without reason that sovereigns considered Calvinism the religion of rebels, and waged so bitter a warfare against it.”[10] Puritans' religious argument for coming to America was to have a Christian community, under their beliefs, to create a pure church.[11] Sephardic Jews came over for religious liberty.[12] The following reason provides an application to the Twenty-First-century believers today.

The second field is that believers can look back to early American Christianity to understand European immigrants by applying these reasons to missiology today. Learning from Spain, the first application is not to take advantage of possessions in the name of the body of Christ. The Jesuits came as missionaries to North America to evangelize and partake in Christ’s suffering (1 Pet. 4:13). This is fascinating reasoning considering their stance among Protestants and Catholics.

Another applicable takeaway is that beliefs should not go to the extreme in every area of values. Drake, for the benefit of the doubt, sought after Protestant beliefs. However, holding these and other tight doctrines also allowed cruelty to others. Gilbert was the manifestation of this subject. Episcopal believers came over with a formal monastic mentality, though non-conforming to the major Christian denominations at the time. Should they have pursued solidarity in isolation? Or uniformity across the globe?

This third application relates to selfishness and a stubborn mindset toward Christ’s church, which forms in diverse ways worldwide. Evaluate your motives in this endeavor. The fourth application is to be careful in being missional to other brothers and sisters in Christ. An example of the Methodist coming over for ecclesiastical reasons. This can become a good thing or a preference. Missionaries should pray to change already constructed mission work in a country. Missions can also be pursued for liberty, motivated by the Jews. These are fascinating takeaways considering missions in the American church today.

In conclusion, believers can look back into early American Christianity to understand European immigrants' religious reasons for pursuing North America and apply these reasons to missiology today. My call to action is to pray to the Lord about your motivations for seeking missions before history repeats itself. Have a momentous day!

God bless,

Rockwell

This discussion boardis formatted as an essay, developed in Spring 2024 in American Christianity (CHHI 660). It is for ministry and edification use only. If used academically, give credit.

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As you know, I am pursuing studies at Dallas Theological Seminary and Liberty University (pursuing Bible and theology, coming close to finishing). I am also involved in missions with Urban Impact at LU. Furthermore, I am beginning to teach the Bible and theology to middle-aged adults through informal education. I even signed up to teach via online tutoring. Despite these involvements, I had no success getting a job to pay for my schooling.

I am reaching out for financial assistance for my Dallas education. Currently, I need $1,300 to pay for the Spring semester (Spring 2024). I am also in credit card debt. After this term, I will have twenty-four credits remaining to finish my Th.M. at DTS. Will you help me over this hurdle? Let me know how I can pray for you. I extremely appreciate it, family and friends! Supporting my endeavors to be a missional pastor/professor.

The link is https://www.dts.edu/give-to-a-student/. In the fields, put my name, Rockwell Funtal, and my DTS ID: 1012633. I will let you know once this goal is accomplished. If the Lord leads you, I do appreciate Summer/Fall support. For newsletters on this blog, please follow this website and put your contact information in the Contact area.

Thank you so much!

Bibliography

Gaustad, Edwin S, Leigh Eric Schmidt, and Leigh Eric Schmidt. The Religious History of America. Rev. ed. San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2002.

“Review of Calvinism and American Independence by Thomas Balch.” The Presbyterian Quarterly and Princeton Review, New Series V, no. 17–20 (1876).

[1] Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is referenced in the King James Version.

[2] Gaustad, Edwin S, Leigh Eric Schmidt, The Religious History of America. Rev. ed. (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2002), 16.

[3] Ibid, 24.

[4] Ibid, 31.

[5] Ibid, 32.

[6] Ibid.

[7] Ibid, 36.

[8] Ibid, 48.

[9] Gaustad, Edwin S, Leigh Eric Schmidt, The Religious History of America. Rev. ed. (San Francisco: HarperSanFrancisco, 2002), 51.

[10] “Review of Calvinism and American Independence by Thomas Balch,” The Presbyterian Quarterly and Princeton Review, New Series V, no. 17–20 (1876): 455–456.

[11] Ibid, 50-53.

[12] Ibid, 72.